There is definitely something in the water: Spa or Cult?

Fun adventure exploring Steamboat Hot Springs thanks to Reddit

There must be something in the water—at least, that's what the Steamboat Hot Springs website says in their first image. So, what exactly is Steamboat Hot Springs, and why am I writing about it? Well, if you're here, it can’t be that shocking, but some people claim it’s a cult.

Yes, dear reader, I was looking for another cult to explore. After visiting the Yellow Deli, I was surprised and sad there were no cults nearby. I considered heading to San Francisco, but I’m not ready for the big leagues yet, so I decided to look closer to home.

A short Reddit deep dive led me to SHS. Searching for cults in the Tahoe/Reno area, I found people suggesting this little hot spring might be a cult. The posts had compelling details about the religion, holistic practices, and cult claims, so I decided to investigate for myself. I called my friend Jess and pitched the idea: we could visit a spa, and in the best-case scenario, we uncover a cult; in the worst-case scenario, we just have a relaxing spa day. It was a real win-win.

We made coffee, prepped the car, and headed to Reno, expecting a location near downtown because, no offense, what exactly is in Reno anyway? Instead, my GPS made us take a weird turn that led us to a rural area near the mountains—cult vibes already. After about ten minutes on this road, a tall white cross appeared. That was it—in a small volcanic field, a cute Spanish-style white building, reminiscent of something you'd see in a Quentin Tarantino movie, with a massive, peculiar-looking cross (more on that later).

Here's a bit of backstory: Sheds built over geothermal cracks provided steam baths, and a sixty-foot geyser became a major attraction. In 1861, Dr. Ellis saw potential in these natural wonders and constructed a 34-bed hospital to treat patients, believing in the healing properties of the hot springs. And then there's Tahoe/Reno’s favorite famous person—Mark Twain. Twain, ever the storyteller, visited the area and was so captivated that he gave it a name. In 1863, he wrote:

"From one spring the boiling water is ejected a foot or more by the infernal force at work below, and in the vicinity of all of them, one can hear a constant rumbling and surging, somewhat resembling the noises peculiar to a steamboat in motion."

Whenever I write about our ghost investigation in Virginia City, this guy will pop up too—it's insane how much influence Twain has in this area. Anyway, back to our regular programming.

As we approached, grabbed our stuff, and headed inside, the vibe shifted from curiosity to a mix of intrigue and slight apprehension. You can see why in the following images:

Inside, the place smelled great! Every staff member was a kind, good-looking girl in her early twenties. The receptionist checked us in and, assuming we were a couple, led us to a somewhat creepy tub room area. She would obviously not call it creepy; she would just say the “orange” room, since each room was themed around a different chakra. We then learned that Chakras are really important for this place.

As we walked to our room, we noticed the same cross shape that was on the tall structure outside prominently displayed on almost every wall inside, adding to the mysterious cult aura. What is that symbol?

While we soaked our feet in our orange tub, we started digging and made some discoveries: That symbol that was everywhere, traced back to Cosolargy. So, we delved deeper … 

The Religion:

Cosolargy, is the spiritual practice championed by the Jamilian Order, part of the International Community of Christ. The layers of this religion/practice are hard to understand, but overall it is a blend of teachings and the practice of “sun-gazing” which consist on looking at the sun.

This practice conglomerates teachings from Christianity and the Essenes (aka Judaism), a masonry organization from Mexico City called the Order of Quetzalcoatl that I’m totally going to research more about, Buddhism, Plato?, among others.

The Cosolargy website claims that we can use the sun as a catalyst for spiritual awakening and enlightenment.

Cosolargy can be broken down with the following beliefs:

1. Solar Worship: At the heart of the Jamilian Order is a profound belief in the healing and spiritual power of the sun.

2. Cosmic Energy: Teaching that the universe combined with cosmic energies, are available for personal transformation and healing.

3. Light and Sound: They use light and sound as tools for spiritual practice, guiding practitioners toward heightened states of consciousness

4. Chakra Alignment: Drawing from Eastern traditions, the Jamilian Order focuses on balancing and aligning the body's chakras to enhance overall spiritual well-being. Now I get the colorful bathtubs!

5. Mystical Religion: Incorporating religious mysticism, the teachings emphasize direct personal communion with the divine.

My Perspective So Far

I want to clarify that I'm not calling a niche religion a cult just because it's different from the mainstream.

If it’s not a cult, it’s not a cult.

And as of this moment, based on my research, this group seems to be blending bits and pieces of various religions to create a unique belief system. Nothing wrong with that.

Personally, I believe in a powerful force in the universe. I don’t know if it's Jesus, Allah, or Zeus, but I think there's something there. As a practitioner of many other holistic practices, I also believe in the healing power of nature, including the sun. Would I stare at the sun? Probably not.

However, I think people can relate to Cosolargy even if they are on opposite ends of the spectrum.

1. if you practice a specific religion: you understand devotion

2. if you are spiritual and practice holistic wellness: you appreciate the connection to higher consciousness and personal transformation

Cosolargy's flexibility and openness are what make it intriguing. As the concept of religion evolves, more people, especially younger generations, identify as "spiritual but not religious." There is a preference in flexible, non-denominational groups that blend different religious, spiritual, and holistic ideas. This trend is clear in Cosolargy's practice.

Its eclectic approach allows for a wide range of spiritual experiences and practices, making it accessible and relatable to many. Whether you are deeply religious or find your spirituality through holistic practices, there's something in Cosolargy that can resonate with you. This inclusivity and adaptability makes this practice very welcoming.

The Cult Take:

But dearest reader, this is not it…

Afterwards, we stepped outside into a charming outdoor space, surrounded by mountain views, and the jacuzzi, nestled in the center. My favorite part was how, while relaxing in the warm water, the symbol statue kept appearing in the distance.

I must admit, the water did felt great—there really is something in the water.

But here’s where we started discussing the potential cult aspect: The belief in the sun, the water’s properties, and the teachings about the Earth were fascinating, they sold me! But then I kept clicking—again, sorry that I’m not putting in such an astounding amount of research; this happened while I was relaxing in a spa. But overall, as I mentioned in all my posts, there are five things that we have to find in order to call something a cult. 

Let's review them again: Leader, Apocalyptic Vision, Isolation from Society, Transcendent Spiritual Experience, and Exploitation of Members. 

Here are some examples of my findings:

• Leader: Gene Savoy Jr

• Transcendent Spiritual Experience: There are solar techniques and other techniques of transcendence, activates latent psycho-physical and spiritual faculties (e.g., force centers and fields) in the individual, which leads to the development of the spiritual Light body for ultradimensional participation in worlds of light while in the present time-space continuum. Cosolargy thereby provides the individual the means of achieving immortality of the spirit/soul and transcendence from lower-dimensional existence.

• Apocalyptic Vision: The church holds that the world is in the End Times, a period prophesied by all the great religions, in which God's divine light will bring about a spiritual Golden Age that will restore a universal religion of light and eventually bring about the restoration of the creation to its original state. The church believes that a new solar epoch has dawned with the advent of the Sun of Righteousness. It teaches that man must learn to process the spiritual forces inherent within the heightened cosmic/solar energy streaming down upon the earth for the survival of the human species and for its continued evolution under a new state of the universe.

Honestly, we just have 3/5. So, while Jess was changing, I decided to interrogate the nice receptionist. I tried asking open rapport questions like: Do you live in Reno or in a cult house around here? What are your thoughts on the nice healing water? What is that cool-looking cross symbol? But this girl remained tight-lipped, only offering yes and no answers and not engaging further.

Eventually, she sold us another treatment, a chakra alignment light therapy.

I think at this point my chakras were already aligned, but we wanted to explore more of the rooms, so we decided to say yes. And while I kept asking questions, we walked to a room that had just a lamp with colorful lights and YouTube music.

We wondered: is this it? Do people here truly believe in these healing practices, or is it a scam?

I lay down under the colorful party lamp and while listening to "Quick 7 Chakra Cleansing | 3 Minutes Per Chakra | Seed Mantra Chanting Meditation | Root to Crown" and I kept wondering…

Did the girl want to keep information from us? 
Is this just not a cult? 

I came to get some answers, and I’m lying down here with way more questions. 

The Yellow Deli was 100% a cult and had more ways  to contact them and join — I can see getting recruited there. But here? The girl didn’t peep once!

But as Jess said, maybe they are just more secretive, maybe they don’t want me in the cult since I’m not twenty anymore.

Or maybe I need to go more direct and inquire specifically about the Cosolargy Academy

After finishing our chakra alignment, we said goodbye to the staff, paid, headed to the car, and asked - is Steamboat Hot Springs a cult? There are cultish vibes, but I can't say for sure. There are certainly some signs.

Conclusion

In the end, leaving Steamboat Hot Springs, we were definitely relaxed and rejuvenated—a clear win.

The question of whether it’s a cult, though, remains a bit murky. The distinction between a cult and a unique spiritual practice is often subtle and needs more digging to truly understand. It’s best not to rush to judgments about faith or quickly label something as a cult.

My quick stalking of Gene Savoy Jr didn’t uncover any major controversy, but his LinkedIn mentioned his multiple roles such as the president of Stetamboat Hot Springs, Bishop of International Community of Christ, Church of the Second Advent, and President of Cosolargy International.

It’s intriguing to think that maybe the practice itself is fine, but issues could arise depending on how intensely individuals engage with it. Is it the belief that’s problematic, or does it become a problem when people take it to extremes?

Would I go back? Absolutely. Steamboat Hot Springs offers fantastic massages and soothing hot springs. Whether it’s a cult, a spiritual sanctuary, or simply a haven for tired hikers, there’s definitely something special about the place.